The Afterword #47: Eight Days A Week & 12 Other Theories (FAB1)

This is the first in a regular Beatles only podcast – yeah, let’s see how soon that plan falls by the wayside – marking the most Beatle-y of months with the documentary ‘Eight Days A Week: The Touring Years’ , the remastered ‘Live at The Hollywood Bowl’ and NOT the announcement of the expected release of Paul McCartney’s ‘Flowers In The Dirt’ super deluxe box set.

We’re all sick of experts so Beatle ubernerds DFB, DoctorJ & StevenC do what they do the rest of the time anyway.

– the film : who is it for, what is it for and should be give it what for?
– the album : better, longer but still unessential?
– Flowers In The Dirt – Macca’s best of the 80’s and rebirth of his career?

The rambling bullshine that you’ve known for all these years – we hope we passed the audition.

Comments

1. People who like pop music made by the greatest group ever in the greatest era.

People who like the idea of getting the whole product for £7 instead of £400 – open to all, no special editions here. You go, you see it, you use it, you leave. Disposable (wildly successful) pop music.

2. Is any live album essential?

However, given this is the ‘only’ official live album by the greatest group ever makes it, at the very least, as essential as any other, surely?
And it’s only a tenner (probably less at Sainsbury’s) and, once again, open to all.

Take no notice, deram. I enjoyed your answers. I think I agree with you.

As for Q3, there are at least two 80s albums better than Flowers In The Dirt; McCartney II from 1980 and Снова В СССР from 1988. I think the latter recharged the batteries more than Flowers. Much is made of the Costello co-writes but I am disappointed in most of them. If I made a list of top fifty songs by each of them (excluding The Beatles of course), I can’t imagine any of the co-writes squeezing in and, if they did, they’d be near the bottom. McCartney’s collaborations with Big Youth are much more fun.

Pipes Of Peace is largely made up of cast-offs from the Tug Of War sessions, and I agree with you on that one.
Press To Play, on the other hand, is dogshit. The songs are largely weak (although Good Times Coming/Feel The Sun is pretty good) and the 80s style production by Hugh Padgham is HORRIBLE.

Looking forward to Flowers in the dirt for the Costello duets but they have been messing around with the release date for so long that I am beginning to give up the will to live.
About time Costello bought out some new stuff the lazy git.

I too first bought Hollywood Bowl on cassette when it came out in 77, I think on the same day I picked up Live on Hamburg I think. Also have the bootleg, and a vinyl copy, doubt I will buy for the 4th time.

My favourite bit in the film was The Kop singing She Loves You.

And I don’t think “ego” was the reason for the new Say Say Say mix as I am fairly sure that Jackson is featured more on this version.

Most enjoyable, and as one at best tepid on the Fabs it makes me want to see the film, and maybe even play some of the music! The Mention The Mighty Tull At Every Opportunity rule requires me to remind you that Martin Barre played on some of the early sessions for “Flowers in the dirt” which you would know if you listened to the podcast featuring the great man.

Just caught up with this podcast…! This post will send it to the top of the blogpile (sorry!) but wanted to chip in my four penneth as an unreconstructed Beatle nut.

1. I’m always intrigued by those who have come to the fabs post 60s – I was lucky enough to be 13 when Beatlemania hit in 1963, so experienced the story in ‘real time’. The early years/albums are, generally speaking, glossed over now as some sort of overture to the studio years, and the idea persists that they weren’t all that good live. This film nails the fact that they were a really great live band, despite the dreadful limitations they worked under, particularly as the gigs quickly and totally outgrew the technology.
2. As intimated in the podcast, there isn’t all that much that is new in terms of the story, despite the claims on the posters. As above though, this is a story often ignored in favour of the story of the records, which I guess is what was meant.
3. I too was puzzled by the album facts inserted periodically, but concluded it was to illustrate the parallel life in the studio…ie. they were producing great work as well as doing all this live stuff.
4. The US-centric approach is annoying, but I guess this is where they mostly ‘toured’ and where there is simply most material available. Also, the effect on America was simply astounding, and the film really brought it home to me again. This is what I think was Ron Howard’s main thrust.
5. Great point made about Shea Stadium footage. It’s obviously been prepared for release in HD, but isn’t substantial enough for a standalone release. My guess is that it will be as part of an expanded Anthology package – that must be the next project.
6. Flowers In The Dirt was certainly a return to form – he also embarked on his biggest tours for years and he returned to the Beatles material in a big way. Coincidence?